posted 04-27-2012 10:36 AM
Does anyone know if any company has ever made a T-38 Talon with NASA livery at 1:400 scale? I've searched the Internet and never found one.

ilbassoMember

Posts: 1516From: Greensboro, NC USARegistered: Feb 2006

posted 04-27-2012 12:02 PM
A 1/400 T-38 would be downright tiny! Less than 1.5" long and only 0.75" wingspan. Still, bigger than I thought until I did the math!

QuiGon GrinMember

Posts: 49From: Rutherford, NJ 07070Registered: Apr 2010

posted 04-27-2012 12:37 PM
Well I really don't pay attention to scales, so that was a guess on my part. The Corgi Century Flight vehicles averaged 3" in size, so that's the approximate size I'm looking for.

Though the size that you mention might fit as more of a realistic scale to some of the shuttles that I have... though that is not a requirement.

GoesTo11Member

Posts: 1257From: Denver, CO USARegistered: Jun 2004

posted 04-27-2012 02:14 PM
For reference, Hogan Wings' 1:200 T-38s are given as 2.75" x 1.5." They've done them in at least a half-dozen different schemes, but no NASA livery (yet).

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 04-27-2012 02:24 PM

quote:Originally posted by ilbasso:A 1/400 T-38 would be downright tiny!

Dragon produced a F-16 at 1/400 which came with their KC-46 tanker model. It's not bad for such a scale — if you're not too picky. For a fighter jet, 1/200 seems to be the minimum. But since I'll have two F-5s at 1/72 from Hobby Master, I'd like to keep the same scale.

A NASA aeronautics line of models would be welcome. Not sure the market is there for those, but my F-5s will come with the Swiss Air Force/acrobatics liveries (how many people are interested in those?), who knows about a NASA livery.

Jay ChladekMember

Posts: 2270From: Bellevue, NE, USARegistered: Aug 2007

posted 04-27-2012 06:31 PM
At about three inches, that would be close to 1/72 scale.

T-38s are something of a scarce animal, even in plastic models. Companies in the past that have done kits have just slapped T-38 decals into the box of F-5B kits and called them T-38s when they are not.

Sword is the only company to date to do a proper T-38 kit in 1/72 and nobody I know has done a pre-built in that size. A 1/48 scale T-38 is planned from one of the Chinese model companies this year, but I don't know when a 1/72 kit might come out or if a pre-built pre-paint might be done.

Pre-painted F-5Es have been done by some of the Japanese firms (I have one), but I have yet to see them do a proper T-38, or even an F-5B.

Dragon might be the best hope for seeing one as they tend to do both pre-built pre-paints and model kits. But if they did one, I would perhaps expect it to be 1/144 scale.

A 1/144 T-38 would be cool to see so I could have a chase plane fleet for my shuttle models in that scale.

history in miniatureMember

Posts: 562From: Slatington, PARegistered: Mar 2009

posted 04-29-2012 05:28 PM
Here are a couple of pictures of the Sword kit.

Jay ChladekMember

Posts: 2270From: Bellevue, NE, USARegistered: Aug 2007

posted 05-01-2012 12:02 PM
Doing some further checking, I see that one of the companies in Japan did an F-5A and Dragon did a model kit of an F-5F (the two seater). So, if one had both and some modeling skill, it should be possible to graft the F-5F's canopy onto the F-5A after modifications are made of course to give it two cockpits (the nose length between F-5As and Bs are close with the front cockpit sitting in front of the normal single seat position).

Then it would be a matter of carving off additional lumps and bumps to get it the rest of the way to a T-38. It would not be easy, but it is possible.

Many years ago, Arii also did a 1/144 F-5A, but it is not a good kit as it is oversized and the detail doesn't match what one might expect.

Only other T-38 in a size close to that which I can remember was a Bachmann Mini Planes T-38 from the 1970s painted in Thunderbirds colors (I had one when I was a kid). Scale of that was about 1/130 or so and it was a nice little replica.

Jay ChladekMember

Posts: 2270From: Bellevue, NE, USARegistered: Aug 2007

posted 05-01-2012 12:40 PM
There is a company called Hogan Wings that is producing T-38 models in 1/200 scale (length about 2.75" long). They haven't done a NASA T-38 yet, but they have done standard USAF trainers, aggressor versions and a couple others. So I think it is only a matter of time before a NASA one is done.

Only thing is, these little models are expensive for their size as checking the prices online, I see them range in price from $30 to $35. But Flying Mule carries them and I know a lot of cS members use them.

Heck, in 1/200, that would be the perfect size to compliment a Hasegawa 1/200 747 SCA with orbiter model (provided NASA markings in that scale are done for the T-38). I still want to see a kit done or something in 1/144.

David CMember

Posts: 506From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 08-29-2013 01:04 AM
Falcon Models has announced the production of a diecast 1/72 scale T-38. The first release is an Edwards AFB machine, but at least one NASA bird is sure to be on the cards.

I have a few of their models, and whilst slightly crude (blunt wing leading edges, wrongly shaped windshields etc) they are adequate and a NASA T-38 will be very welcome.

PeterOMember

Posts: 298From: Rochester, NHRegistered: Mar 2002

posted 08-29-2013 04:51 AM
For kit builders, Wolfpack Designs has released a new 1/48 scale T-38A. The first version has standard USAF trainer markings, but the next version will have NASA markings.

Fundekals has also announced a sheet of NASA markings for the Wolfpack kit.

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 08-29-2013 05:09 AM

quote:Originally posted by David C:...but at least one NASA bird is sure to be on the cards.

Let's hope so. But I don't know if we can be sure that a manufacturer of a given model will necessarily produce a NASA version of that model.

Hobby Master produces version of the F-18 but does that mean they will come up with a NASA version as depicted in the picture posted alongside Gordon Fullerton's tribute page from Dryden Flight Center?

Hobby Master (and Falcon Models) have produced Swiss version of military jets (F/A-18 and Mirage III) so we can only hope that someone will come up with aircraft with NASA markings.

Jay ChladekMember

Posts: 2270From: Bellevue, NE, USARegistered: Aug 2007

posted 09-02-2013 01:43 AM
I believe in the case of a diecast T-38, NASA markings are about as close to an eventual "sure thing" as there can be. The USAF is the biggest operator and there have been plenty of different marking schemes for those birds (white livery being the most common). But past that, Portugal was the only export customer for the T-38. NASA by comparison is considered a major operator of the T-38 as well.

GoesTo11Member

Posts: 1257From: Denver, CO USARegistered: Jun 2004

posted 09-02-2013 11:10 AM
Plus, looking at the Falcon Models listings on the Flying Mule site, they seem to specialize in a fairly narrow range of not-very-common aircraft types, each in a good variety of liveries. Fingers crossed, but if you're going to the expense of producing T-38 dies and tooling, a NASA model seems like a no-brainer to me.

albatronMember

Posts: 2496From: Stuart, FloridaRegistered: Jun 2000

posted 09-02-2013 12:09 PM
"Scale clueless," I picked up a T-38 model on eBay for a song, the pitot tube had chipped. It's about 11" long and part of the Executive Series of models by Daron. I've never heard of them.

I took it to the last Spacefest where Ed Mitchell graciously signed it for me.

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 35971From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 09-02-2013 12:36 PM
That would be Toys and Models Corporation's 1:48 scale T-38B NASA Talon. (Daron is a distributor.)

Robert PearlmanEditor

Posts: 35971From: Houston, TXRegistered: Nov 1999

posted 12-01-2013 08:55 AM

quote:Originally posted by PeterO:Wolfpack Designs has released a new 1/48 scale T-38A.

Both models are quite handsome and I'm glad I bought them. The finish/detail is, I would say, a notch below Hobby Master but I have no problem displaying the two manufacturers side-by-side.

A couple of detail quirks on the T-38s: The canopies are removable, but all one piece, including the windscreen. Not sure of the point, but whatever. Cockpit detail is pretty sparse.

On both models, the partial underwing markings are not applied to the gear doors in the "down" position, only to the "wheels up" doors. This would not be an issue with a NASA bird, but another detail might: The Edwards model is painted with black erosion guards on the leading edges of the wings and vertical stab, and these appear a little "thick" on the model... something that could carry over to a NASA version. Not a big deal for me, but worth noting.

I have only these quibbles with the Falcon releases and would definitely purchase a NASA Talon in the same line.

jeffbassettMember

Posts: 109From: ToledoRegistered: Feb 2005

posted 08-07-2014 08:56 PM
Falcon Models just released information on a new die-cast 1:72 scale NASA T-38 coming out in October.

Editor's note: Threads merged.

David CMember

Posts: 506From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 08-07-2014 08:56 PM
I'd like to see them release early Apollo and early shuttle era markings, but this is a start.

Seriously though, see my above comments on the Falcon T-38s... not perfect, but worthwhile in my opinion.

David CMember

Posts: 506From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 08-08-2014 12:02 AM
Thanks, I know all about the Falcon T-38 and am hoping that they finally correct the exhausts from previous releases, (they were known to be looking at this but it's all gone very quiet). The model has several other defects.

The purpose of the removable canopy is to allow the owner to insert crew figures if they wish. Hobby Master supplies American 1/72 pilots in '70s/'80s gear and these could be re-painted. That's my plan.

There aren't a massive number of different T-38 users so I think that, depending on sales, more NASA T-38s could be forthcoming. They have the info and usually release several schemes per operator.

GoesTo11Member

Posts: 1257From: Denver, CO USARegistered: Jun 2004

posted 08-08-2014 08:57 PM
That would be great, but in this case it seems like a stretch to me. Given that the distinctive NASA livery (blue "racing stripes" and tail band) didn't appear until around 1973, a Mercury, Gemini, Apollo era Talon would be pretty basic looking...(small) meatball on the nose and tail, and that's about it. And even after that, the difference from one decade to the next essentially amounts to the vertical stab markings and placement of numbers.

Again, I'd also definitely buy other NASA variants if they were offered (I've pre-ordered two of this one), but I suspect as far as the market at large goes we're in the very small minority.

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 08-09-2014 04:26 PM

quote:Originally posted by GoesTo11:I'm excited to finally see a diecast NASA T-38 at all!

Me too! Keep them coming!

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 11-11-2014 11:20 AM

quote:Originally posted by jeffbassett:Falcon Models just released information on a new die-cast 1:72 scale NASA T-38 coming out in October.

Our supplier informed us that Falcon Models citing "Tooling Issues" ceased production (roughly "tool problems"). Items available are the ones in stock. New models will come no more.

If anyone can confirm or deny this, I would appreciate because the NASA T-38 would the victim of this.

David CMember

Posts: 506From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 11-11-2014 12:36 PM
The Chinese factory Falcon used to produce it's models has gone bust. Falcon are trying to get their toolings back from the receivers and re-start production in another factory. There will be, at the very least a consideable pause in production - if it ever re-starts at all. That's all I know.

jeffbassettMember

Posts: 109From: ToledoRegistered: Feb 2005

posted 11-11-2014 01:58 PM
Falcon has noted they expect to have the molds back shortly and is working to find another factory to work with. They expect a 2 to 3 month delay on their models due to this.

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 11-12-2014 02:45 PM
The Flying Mule now lists the model for March 2015.

GoesTo11Member

Posts: 1257From: Denver, CO USARegistered: Jun 2004

posted 11-12-2014 08:46 PM
I got an email this afternoon from The Flying Mule confirming what I had already read here regarding Falcon's production, and asking me if I wished to cancel my pre-order for the NASA T-38.

I'll leave it for now. As discussed above, Falcon's models definitely aren't "ideal," but with nothing similar apparently in the pipeline from anyone else, I'll wait a while and see what develops.

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 11-13-2014 01:13 AM
Same here. I've let the pre-order open, just in case-eventhough The Flying Mule is not that optimistic about future production of any models...

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 12-01-2016 09:54 AM
Finally it is in the works! Yeehaaa!! (Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (HA5401)T-38A Talon "Chase Plane"N923NA, STS-3 Mission for Space Shuttle Columbia, New Mexico, USA, March 30, 1982

1/72 scale pre-finished.

Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.

Professionally painted.

All markings are pad applied for superb results.

Crew figure.

Comes with display stand.

Landing gear can be displayed up or down.

David CMember

Posts: 506From: PasadenaRegistered: Apr 2012

posted 12-01-2016 09:56 AM
Beat me to it. This first release of a chase plane for the STS-3 recovery seems to be a slightly odd choice of NASA T-38 to my way of thinking, but very welcome nonetheless.

cspgMember

Posts: 5437From: Geneva, SwitzerlandRegistered: May 2006

posted 12-02-2016 08:34 AM
Not necessarily odd. More models may be in the works and this model may serve as a testing ground. Herpa did somewhat the same thing with the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear bomber. First they came out with the Ukrainian Air Force model and then with the Russian/Soviet Air Force one. Had they done the opposite they may not have sold as many Ukrainian models...